The football fraternity is still mourning the quiet passing of former national football star Abbey Nasur.
The striker, who was 73, died on the evening of Tuesday, January 13 at Naguru hospital after several weeks of treatment. Nasur’s death marks another profound loss for Ugandan football, coming just two weeks after the passing of legendary teammate Polly Ouma on December 30, 2025.
With his departure, the surviving members of the celebrated 1978 Uganda Cranes squad are now reduced to seven. News of his passing spread slowly, hampered by an internet shutdown that occurred just an hour before he died.
Yet, the silence of that moment stands in stark contrast to the vibrant legacy of a man who thrilled a nation. On the field, Nasur was a formidable presence: stoutly built, graceful and tenacious. He was a tireless, industrious and fearless forward.
With a potent mix of dribbling skill and high intensity, he specialised in unlocking the tightest defences. More than just a scorer of vital goals, he was an intelligent team player. He often drew defenders into his web before springing free to create chances for others.
A true performer, he was also a versatile utility player, featuring effectively in multiple positions. At his peak, Nasur’s competitiveness guaranteed him a place in the first eleven, both for club and The Cranes.
His contributions were pivotal in Uganda qualifying for both the 1974 and 1976 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments where he featured prominently.
FORMATIVE YEARS
His football journey began in humble circumstances. Ironically, when Prisons FC (later Maroons) spotted him in 1969, Nasur was playing for a little-known non-league team during a friendly match in Mpigi.
Prisons coach Peter Okee opened the door to a career that would make him a household name. His talent quickly shone through. Within a few years, he was part of Prisons’ lethal striking force alongside greats like Ali Kigala, Peter Babu and Charles Ebalu.
His performances soon caught the eye of national youth team coach Robert Kiberu, who drafted him into the squad that won the 1973 regional Youth Cup in Nairobi. That same year, he was among the cohort of youngsters promoted to the senior Uganda Cranes, joining the likes of Ashe Mukasa, Phillip Omondi and Timothy Ayiekoh.
He quickly became a fixture, featuring in the 1974 Afcon qualifiers against Algeria and helping lift the 1973 Cecafa Cup on home soil in Kampala.
A CRANES MAINSTAY
At club level, Nasur became a core part of the Uganda Prisons side, twice finishing as the league’s top scorer in 1975 (13 goals) and 1977 (11 goals). Though he didn’t win major silverware with Prisons, his club form cemented his place in the national team.
As the golden generation of Ouma and Stanley ‘Tank’ Mubiru began to wane, Nasur elevated his game to become a mainstay for The Cranes. He was instrumental in the 1976 Afcon campaign in Ethiopia and famously took the 1976 Cecafa Cup in Zanzibar by storm, scoring the first goal in a 2-0 final victory over Zambia.
His finest hour came in the historic 1978 Afcon campaign in Ghana. After helping Uganda qualify, he scored a crucial semi-final goal against Nigeria to send the Cranes to their first-ever final. Tragedy struck in that final, however, as he was forced off after just 20 minutes due to poor health.
GOR MAHIA CHAPTER
Upon returning from Ghana, Uganda Prisons rewarded his national service with a promotion to assistant senior superintendent. However, following the 1979 war that toppled Idi Amin, Nasur moved to Kenya, joining the giants Gor Mahia, then coached by David Otti. His success continued unabated.
He helped Gor Mahia secure four league titles (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987) and three Cecafa Club Cup crowns (1980, 1981, 1985). He finally drew the curtain on his glittering playing career in 1987, remaining in Kenya until his return to Uganda with his family in 2001.
LATER LIFE AND LEGACY
A brief stint as head coach of KCCA FC and Maji FC between 2002 and 2006 followed, but after his exit, he stepped away from the game. He lived quietly at his home in Naguru until six years ago, when a painful leg condition, later attributed to anthrax according to his widow Sophia Nakasi Gitta, severely limited his mobility.
The final years were difficult for the once-dynamic athlete, who was seen by many in a wheelchair, a heartbreaking sight for those who remembered his power on the pitch. He relied on the support of good Samaritans to make ends meet.
Though hailing from Pakwach in West Nile, he was laid to rest at Bombo muslim cemetery. Nasur leaves behind a widow, ten children and a nation grateful for his indelible contributions to Ugandan football. He was, simply, a performer.